Interview Preview: Bruce Poon Tip - Global Adventure Travel Entrepreneur with a Conscience

Yesterday I had a chance to meet Bruce Poon Tip,exposure to local culture.
owner and CEO of G.A.P Adventures, one ofPlaneterra is a non-profit organization founded by
Canada's most successful travel entrepreneurs. YouG.A.P to give back. Today Planeterra raises funds for
may wonder, what is he like? Bruce is the owner ofa number of community projects, international charities
Canada's largest adventure travel company, anand an endowment fund to ensure long-term support
attractive man of about 37 years of age, dressed inof community development and conservation projects
casual attire and not afraid to speak off the cuff.for years to come. Some of the community projects
Certainly a charismatic personality who was able tothat G.A.P sponsors through donations include a
captivate last night's capacity crowd at the G.A.P.community school in Ecuador, a foundation in Honduras
concept store in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.to help women start their own businesses, an NGO in
In 1990 Bruce went on an organized backpacking tripCosta Rica for environmental and wildlife conservation
to Thailand where he had a chance to explore theprojects, a local battery recycling project in Chile, a
people and the country on $10.00 a day. Thisdrop-in center for street children in Cuczo, Peru, and
experience gave him the idea to create G.A.Pmany more. G.A.P Adventures itself also initiated a
Adventures, today Canada's largest adventure travelWomen's Weaving Project in Peru that taught local
company that now sells thousands of different tripswomen ancient weaving techniques as well as natural
and annually sends 40,000 passengers on their ownfabric dye processes. Today all G.A.P travel groups
small-group adventures. G.A.P has about 300visiting the Sacred Valley in Peru have a chance to
employees today, headquartered in Toronto, withsee and purchase high quality textiles produced by
operational offices in various countries of Latinthese weavers, all sold at fair trade prices.
America. It's most recent endeavours are the G.A.PAs another example of the innovativeness of his
concept stores which have recently been opened incompany, Bruce shared with us the story of how he
high-traffic areas in Toronto and Vancouver, placeswent out to purchase the "Explorer", the world's first
where travellers can research their adventure trip, getpurpose-built expedition cruise ship. In March of 2004
more information about their desired destination andBruce went on an expedition cruise through the
book their once-in-a-lifetime experience supported byAntarctic and fell in love with the experience. He
good advice with no sales pressure.figured he need to buy his own expedition cruise ship
For his entrepreneurial savvy Bruce has wonand started looking for suitable vessels. In April of 2004
numerous awards, besides receiving an award as onehe found the "Explorer", a historic expedition ship with a
of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, Bruce has been alsocapacity of 112 passengers and a crew of 60 people.
been honoured as one of Canada's top 5The ship had been docked in Genoa, Italy, for many
entrepreneurs by Canadian Business as well asmonths due to the financial problems of its owners.
Canada's 100 leaders of tomorrow. Profit MagazineJust another 2 months later, but after many
named him in their 20th anniversary issue cover storycomplications, G.A.P took possession of the ship. Only
as one of Canada's Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the lastanother 4 months later, after extensive restorations,
20 years. Bruce also received the Global Tradersthe Explorer went on its inaugural journey and today
Leadership award from the government for his groundoffers expedition cruises to such unique places as
breaking ideas in exporting services.Antarctica, the Amazon, Spitzbergen, and Greenland.
Recently Bruce was asked by the World Bank and(Incidentally, G.A.P. has agreed to sponsor our first
UNESCO to represent a team to visit the PeoplesTravel Story Contest and the grand prize winner of
Republic Of China to lecture on Sustainableour contest will win an exciting adventure cruise on the
Development. In January of 2002 Bruce was the onlyAmazon in the Explorer - all thanks to G.A.P.
Canadian operator invited to speak at the UnitedAdventures.)
Nations Launch of the Year Of Eco Tourism in NewG.A.P's innovative business ideas don't end here. G.A.P
York. Bruce defied the odds once again last year byalso has a travel TV Show: Great Adventure People
winning Canada's prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year,TV shows viewers the world - G.A.P Adventures
as well as the National Citation for Entrepreneurship.style. The camera accompanies small groups of G.A.P
G.A.P's additional awards include having two tripsAdventure travellers and follows them on unique G.A.P.
chosen among the TOP 25 Adventures in the Worldadventure trips- cycling through the fascinating country
by National Geographic Adventure magazine, theof Vietnam, exploring exotic Morocco, and hiking, biking
Ethics in Action Award, the Global Traders Award andand rafting through captivating Spain and Italy. New
the Clean Air Commute Award for five straight years.episodes can be seen in Canada on CTV and will
Although a consummate business man, Bruce Poonsoon also be available in Great Britain on the UK
Tip has a conscience and he has founded his entireTravel Channel.
entreprise on the concept of sustainability andG.A.P is a unique company, with a unique philosophy
established travel practices that show consideration ofand a unique way of operating. I am looking forward to
natural surroundings and local cultures. By limiting theinterviewing Bruce personally and to finding out how he
travel group size to 12 people, by taking localis able to combine a successful high-growth adventure
transportation and staying in small, locally owned hotelstravel business with his dedication to social causes and
and guesthouses, G.A.P travellers are able to minimizesustainable travel. Stay tuned for some interesting
their footprint in foreign communities and get maximuminsights into a brilliant entrepreneurial mind....